Condenser



J. H. SMITH CONDENSER Feb. 16, 1932.

Original Filed Oct. 3, 1930 Fic-J.

INVENTOR John H. Smith q) (T5 I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. SMITH, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONDENSER Application filed October 3, 1930, Serial No. 486,234. Renewed November 13, 1931.

My invention relates to apparatus for condensing gaseous media and particularly to apparatus of the surface type intended primarily for condensing steam, and it has for an object to provide apparatus of this character which shall be so constructed and arranged as to effectively utilize the entire cooling surface of the apparatus in order that it may operate at a higher heat transfer rate.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a surface condenser, of the singlepass type wherein the gaseous media, after i entering thetube nest, flows or circulates longitudinally in a general direction from the region of low heat head toward the region of high heat head.

In m copending application, Serial No. 412,800, filed December 9, 1929, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, I disclose andclaim a form of condenser of the single-pass type. As usual in condensers of this type, a relatively high heat head exists at the cold or cooling water entrant end of the tube nest and a relatively lower heat head exists at the warm or cooling water exit end of the tube nest. As disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid application, I embody, in the tube nest of that application, a longitudinally-extending cavity and I provide, in the intermediate tube sheets which support the tube nest, openings registering with the cavity so as to afford unrestricted circulation of gaseous media longitudinally through the tube nest from the region of relatively low heat head toward the region of high heat head.

However, in accordance with my present invention, I provide for the longitudinal circulation of gaseous media through the tube nest by means of intermediate tubesupp-orting sheets having staggered tubesupporting portions, each intermediate sheet supporting only a portion of the tubes of the nest, whereby substantial openings or areas are left or are provided in each intermediate tube sheet for the passage of media longitudinally of the nest. The openings in adj acent tube sheets are staggered so that tubes passing through openings in one'sheet are supported by a tube-supporting portion of an adjacent sheet. In other words, adjacent intermediate tube sheets cooperate to support the tubes of the nest, part of the tubes being supported by one sheet and the other part of the tubes being supported by the adjacent sheet, whereby longitudinal circulation of media within the nest may take place.

My invention, therefore, has for still another object to provide a condenser arrangement in which the intermediate tube sheets not only support the tubes, but have openings providing for free longitudinal circulation of gaseous media toward the cooling water entrant end of the tube nest or the region of high heat head.

It has for still another object to provide a condenser of the foregoing character wherein the openings in adjacent tube sheets are staggered transversely.

It has for a still further object to provide a condenser arrangement wherein transversely spaced portions of the tube nest are supported by alternate tube sheets while the remaining portions are supported by the intervening tube sheets.

These and other objects are effected by my invention, as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal sectional elevation of a single-pass condenser arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view showing arr-intermediate tube sheet arranged to support one portion of the tube nest; and,

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view showing another intermediate tube sheet arranged to support the remaining portion of the tube nest.

Referring now to the drawings, I show, in Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of my invention comprising a surface condenser having a shell structure 11 provided with an inlet 12 for steam or gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet 13 for condensate. A tube nest 14 is disposed longitudinally within the shell structure and it is so arranged as to provide an arcuate steam deshell structure,

livery space 15 between it and the shell, which space is in free communication with the gaseous media inlet 12. The tube nest is supported at one end in an end tube sheet 16 and at the other end in a similar end tube sheet 17.

An inlet water box 18 is provided in the outwardly of the end tube sheet 16 at one end of the shell for supplying cooling water to the tubes of the tube nest, and an outlet water box 19 is provided outwardly of the end tube sheet 17, at the other end of the shell, for receiving cooling water from the tubes. The inlet water box 18 defines the cold end of the tube nest or region of relatively high heat head, while the outlet water box 19 defines the relatively warm end of the tube nest or region of relatively low heat head.

While not essential to the operation of my present invention, the tube nest may be arranged to embody a centrally-disposed, longitudinally-extending core space or cavity 21 devoid of tubes to enable any gaseous media that may penetrate to the central portion of the tube nest to flow more easily toward the cold end.

The tube nest is supported intermediate its ends by a series of complementary intermediate tube sheets 22 and 23, illustrated in vFigs. 2 and 3, each sheet supporting only a portion of the tubes of the nest. The complementary tube sheets 22 and 23 are spaced between the end tube sheets and are arranged in alternate relation, so that all of the tubes of the nest are adequately supported between the end tube plates and to provide, as hereinafter pointed out, for flow or I distribution of media iuteriorly of the nest.

The intermediate tube sheets 22 are each provided with a central opening 24, an inner annular web section 25 about the opening, and an outer annular web section 26 spaced outwardly from the latter. Arcuate openings 27 are arranged between the inner and outer web sections 25 and 26, and the latter sections are connected by radial portions 28 separating the arcuate openings. The tube sheet 22 is supported by suitable outwardlyextending portions or tongues 29 and 30 in engagement with the interior of the shell.

The intermediate tube sheets 23 are alternately arranged with respect to and are spaced from the main intermediate tube sheets 22 and are provided with web sections to support the tubes which pass through the openings in the intermediate tube sheets 22 and, with openings or sections cut away about the portion of the tube nest supported in the main intermediate tube sheets. As illustrated in Fig. 3, each of the intermediate tube sheets 23 has an annular web section 31 of a size suitable to support the tubes extending through the arcuate openings 27 of the intermediate tube sheets 22, a central opening ent portions,

32 for the portion of tubes supported by the inner annular web 25, of tube sheet 22 and outer arcuate spaces 33 separated by the tongues 34 and 35 supporting the sheet from the shell.

The openings 27 in the tube sheets 22 are arranged in staggered relation with respect to the openings 32 and 33 in the sheets 23. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the connections 28 and the tongue 34 and 35 also function as tube. supports.

An air ofi'take conduit 36 extends through the inlet water box 18 and it communicates with the central portion of the tube nest to provide for removal of air and non-condensable gaseous media from the condenser shell at the cold end. A battle structure 37 is provided in the longitudinal passageway '21 at the center of the tube nest to deflect air and non-condensable gaseous media out into a portion of the tube nest at the cold end before it enters the otltake conduit 36. An arcuate battle or rain plate 38 is provided at the cold end of the tube nest and arranged to extend from the end tube sheet 16, bounding the inlet water box 18, toward the warm end and may be extended as far as the first intermediate tube sheet 22. The batlie 38 is arranged to embrace a section of the tube nest at the cold end to define the air cooling space into which the baflie 3T deflects air and noncondensable gaseous media and to prevent condensate from raining into the air oiftake conduit.

In the operation of a condenser constructed and arranged according to my invention, entering steam flows inwardly of the nest and through the openings in the complementary intermediate tube sheets 22 and 23 toward the cold end. Any steam which may reach the central portion of the tube nest flows along the longitudinally-extending cavity 21 to the air offtake. Movement of steam toward the cold end is due to the natural tendency for it to seek the region of high heat head. The air otftake means serving to remove. the media is placed at the cold end so that this natural flow or drift may be more effective.

The construction of the complementary intermediate tube sheets 22 and 23 provides adequate openings or areas afi'ording longitudinal circulation of condensable andnoncondensable media over a substantial portion of the tube nest, the natural tendency of media entering the tube nest to circulate toward the region of high heat head being rendered effective to secure such longitudinal circulation through the tube nest. Therefore, the steam or gaseous media may more readily distribute itself in the tube nest according to the relative condensing capacity of differthereby increasing the effectiveness of the tube nest and enabling the condenser to operate at a substantially high heat transfer rate.

without departing from the spirit thereof,

and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be'placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure havin an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed within the shell structure and extending longitudinally therethrough, water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest for the circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal div rection through the tubes, tube sheets located at the ends and intermediately of the ends of the tube nest, the intermediate tube sheets having openings of substantial flow-area to provide for longitudinal circulation of the gaseous media-through the tube nest toward the cooling water entrant end thereof, the openin 's in adjacent intermediate tube sheets being disposed, transversely, in staggered relation, and means communicating with the tube nest near the cooling water entrant end thereof for removing air and non-condensable gaseous media from the shell structure.

2. In a condenser, the combination. of a shell structure havin an inlet for gaseous media-to be condense and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed within the shell structure and extending longitudinally there through, water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest forthe circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direction through the tube nest, said tube nest embodyinga longitudinally-extending cavity, tube sheets supported at the ends and intermediatelv ofthe ends of the tube nest, the intermediate tube sheets having openings to provide for lon itudinal circulation of the gas eous media t rough the cavity, and also having other openings to provide for longitudinal circulation of gaseous media among the tubes, the last-named openings being in staggered relation in adjacent tube sheets, and means communicating with the cavity near the cooling water entrant end of the tube nest for removing air and non-condensable gas eous media from the shell structure.

3. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure havin an inlet for gaseous media to be condensef and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed within the shell structure v and extending longitudinally therethrough, water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest for the circulation of coolin water in a single, longitudinal direction t rough the tubes, tube-supporting sheets located at the ends and intermediately of the ends of the tube nest, one intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support one transverse portion of the tube nest and another intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support another transverse portion of the tube nest, said intermediate tube sheets be ing disposed, longitudinally, in spaced relation and said intermediate tube sheets having their supporting portions disposed, trans versely, in staggered relation, and means communicating with the tube nest near the cooling water entrant vend thereof for removing air and non-condensable gaseous media from the shell structure.

' 4. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to becondensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed within the shell structure and extending longitudinallytherethrough, water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest for the circulation of cooling Water in a single, longitudinal direction through the tubes, tube-supporting sheets located at the endsand intermediately of the ends of the tube nest one intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support one portion of the tube nest, and another inter= mediate tubesheet being arranged to support another portion of the tube nest, said intermediate tube sheets being disposed, longitudinally, in spaced relation and said intermediate tube sheets having their supporting portions disposed transversely, in staggered relation, and embodying outward ly-extending projection supported by the wall of the shell structure, and means con1municating with the tube nest near the cooling water entrant end thereof for removing air and non-condensable gaseous media from the shell structure. I

5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having anfinlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed within the 'shell structure and extending longitudinally 0nd tube sheets located intermediate the ends bf the tube nest, the first intermediate tube I sheet being arranged to support transverselyspaced portions of the tube nest, the second intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support the intervening portion of the tube nest, and means communicating withthe tube nest near the cooling entrant end thereof for removing air and non-condensable gaseous media from the shell structure.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and-an outlet for condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and spaced single, longitudinal direction through the tubes, tube-supporting sheets located at the ends and intermediate the ends of the tube nest, one intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support one transverse portion of the tube nest, another intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support another transverse portion of the tube nest,'said intermedi ate tube sheets being disposed, longitudinal ly, in spaced relation and said intermediate tube sheets having their supporting portions disposed, transversely, in staggered relation,

and means communicating with the interior portion of the tube nest near the cooling water. entrant end thereof Ifor removing air and non-eondensable gaseous media from the shell structure. i i

In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and anoutlet for con- I densate, a tube nest of substantially cylindricaloutline extending longitudinally through the shell structure and spaced therefrom so that a substantial portion of the outermost tubes of the tube nest define, with the shell structure, an arcuate steam delivery space in communication with said inlet, water boxes 'associatcd with the ends of the tube nest for the circulation of cooling'ivater in a. single, longitudinal direction through the tubes, said tube nest being formed to embody a longitudinally-extending core space in the intcrior thereof, the tubes ofthe tube nest being arranged in annular groups about the core space, a tube sheet located at each end of the tube nest and arranged to support the ends of the tubes, first and second tube-supporting sheets located intermediate the ends of'the tube nest, the first intermediate tube sheet lac-- ing arranged to support transversely-spaced, annular groups of tubes, the second intermediate tube sheet being arranged to support the intervening annular group of tubes, and means communicating with the core space near the cooling water entrant end of the tube nest for removing air'and non-condensable gaseous media from the shell structure.

3. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, a tube nest disposed Within the shell structure and extending longitudinally therethrough, water boxes associated with the ends of the tube nest for the circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinaldi-- rection through the tubes, the tubes of said tube nest being arranged, transversely, in substantially annular groups, tube sheets located at each end of the tube nest and ar-' .let and outlet water boxes. a nest ranged toesupport the ends of the tubes, first and second tube-supporting sheets located intermediate-the ends of the tube nest, the' first intermediate sheet having annular webs for supporting inner and outer annular groups of tubes and having arcuate. spaces separating the webs, the second intermediate sheet having an annularlweb alined with the arcuate openings for supporting the intervening annular group of tubes extending through said .arcuate openings, and means communicating with the tube nest near the cooling water entrant end thereof for removing airand non-condensable gaseous me- Y die from the shell structure.-

9. In acondenser, the. combination of a shell structure having an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed and-an outlet for coni densate, a 'longitudinally-extending tube nest disposed within the shell structure, water. boxes associated with the ends pf the tube nest for the circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direction therethrough, said tube nest embodying a longitudinally extendingcavity, a tube sheet 10- cated ateach end of the tube nest and arranged to support the ends of the tubes, first and second tube sheets located intermediate the ends of the" tube nest, the first intermediate tubesheet being arranged to support one portion of the tube nest and the second intermediate tube sheet being arranged to supportanother portion of the tube nest,

said intermediate tube sheets being disposed, longitudinally, inspac'ed; relation and having their supporting portions disposed,-

transversely, in sta gered relation, means surrounding the cavity near the cooling water entrant end ofthe tubes to form a cooling chamber embracing a portion of the tube nest, means within the cavity near the cooling water entrant end of the tubes for deflecting'the gaseous media flowing along the cavity into the cooling chamber, and means communicating with the cooling chamber for removing-air and non-condensable,gaseous media from the shell structure.

10. In a single-pass condenser having inlet and outlet water boxes, a nest of tubes connecting the water boxes; complementary intermediate first and second tube sheets for the tubes of the nest; each first sheet embody ing outer and. inner webs for supporting outer and inner portions of the tube nest, the'webs being bounded by open spaces, and each second sheet having a web portion for supporting the tubes extending through said spaces, an air otftake communicating withthe interior of the tube nestadjacent to the inlet water box;-and means for deflecting media from the interior of the tube nest among the tubes adjacent the ofi'take before such media enters the ofitake.

11. In a single-pass condenser having inof tubes connecting the water boxes and arranged to provide a core space; complementary intermediate first and second tube sheets for the tubes of the nest; each first sheet having inner and outer annular webs for supporting inner and outer annular portions of the tubes of the nest, the inner and outer annular webs being separated by arcuate openings and the inner annular web defining an opening for the core space, and each second sheet having an annular web portion for supporting an intermediate annular portion of the tubes extending through said arcuate openings; an air ofi'take communicating with the core space adjacent to the inlet water box; and means for deflecting media from the core space among the adjacent tubes of the nest before such media enters the offtake.

12. In a single-pass condenser having 1nlet and outlet water boxes, a nest of tubes connecting the water boxes and arranged to provide a core space; complementary intermediate first and second tube sheets for the tubes of the nest; each first sheet having inner and outer annular webs for supporting inner and outer annular portions of the tubes of the nest, the inner and outer annular webs being separated by arcuate openings and the inner annular web defining an opening for the core space, and the second sheet having an annular web portion for supporting an intermediate annular portion of the tubes extending through saidarcuate openings; an air olftake communicating with the core space adj acent to the inlet water box; and means cooperating with the ofl'take to define an oflt-ake space in direct communication with the offtake and to deflect media from the core space into adjacent tubes of the nest before the latter enters the ofltake space.

13. In a single-pass condenser having inlet and outlet water boxes, a nest of tubes connecting the water boxes and arranged to provide a core space; complementary intermediate first and second tube sheets for the tubes of the nest, each first sheet having inner and outer anular webs for supporting inner and outer annular portions of the tubes of the nest, the inner and outer annular webs being separated by arcuate openings and the inner annular web defining an opening for the core space. and each second sheet having an annular web portion for supporting an intermediate annular portion of the tubes extending through said arcuate. openings; an air ofi'take communicating with the core space adjacent to the inlet water box; means cooperating with the ofi'take to define an ofi'take space in direct communication with the offtake and to deflect media from the core space into adjacent tubes of the nest before the latter enters the ofl'take space; and a rain plate extending longitudinally of and within the tube nest and disposed above the ofi'take and the deflecting means.

14. In a single-pass condenser having inlet and outlet water boxes, a nest of tubes communicating with the water boxes; complementary intermediate first and second tube sheets for the tubes of the nest, each first sheet having inner and outer annular webs for supporting inner and outer annular portions of the nest and the inner and outer webs being connected by radial portions defining arcuate spaces separating the inner and outer annular webs, and each intermediate second tube sheet having an annular portion for supporting the intermediate annular portion of the nest extending through the arcuate spaces and the radial connecting portions of each first intermediate tube supporting sheet; an ofi'take for non-condensable gaseous media arranged adjacent to the inlet water box and communicating interiorly with the core space defined by tubes; and means cooperating with the inner anular portion of the tubes to define an offtake space in communication with the ofitake and to deflect media from the core space among the tubes of the inner annular portion before entering the ofltake space.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of September, 1930.

' JOHN H. SMITH.

the inner annular portion of the 

